Anna Moreau chats with Jansis O’Hanlon, executive director of The Blue Room (eight years).
WABN: Describe a day at work.
JO: “A walk to work, a cup of good coffee, then meetings, working with the Blue Room team on current projects, ensuring efficient day-to-day operations and hopefully some time spent on long-term development.”
WABN: What is the best piece of advice you can give someone to motivate a team?
JO: “Make sure everyone is working towards a shared goal; set high standards and celebrate and acknowledge both individual and group achievements.”
WABN: What has been the most challenging event in your career?
JO: “Having to re-schedule the whole year when the Blue Room renovations were postponed. This included needing to re-open the venue with a full program in four weeks whilst at the same time communicating with members that the renovations had been put on hold.
“From this I learned to expect change, look for positives and always have a contingency plan.”
WABN: What is the main quality are you looking for within your team members?
JO: “Passion and commitment, intelligence and sense of humour (that’s three!). One quality would be high personal standards.”
WABN: What's best measurement of your performance, and can you name a highlight in your career?
JO: “Seeing artists who received opportunities through the Blue Room receive industry awards, continue to build their reputation and take their work to a wider audience.
“A definite career highlight was the re-opening of the Blue Room after the renovation works were completed.”
WABN: How do you deal with egos in your workplace?
JO: “A well balanced ego is healthy. An inflated ego is often a sign of insecurity (the 'look at me' syndrome) and there’s certainly a lot of that in our business. I guess trying to understand what’s driving the behaviour is key – a sense of humour also helps.”
WABN: Is there an organisation/business model that you strive to achieve/reach? What is it?
JO: “The Blue Room is a unique model in resource and program delivery. Organisations that have influenced our structure include La Mama and Auspicious Arts (both organisations based in Melbourne and dedicated to supporting the development of performing artists and the work they create).”
WABN: What frustrates you the most about your sector and what would you do to change it?
JO: “I think our sector (and cultural activity) is often seen as elitist, irrelevant and inaccessible. What I’d like is for a cultural shift to happen where Australians value culture and the arts in the same way as they value sport and recreation. What do I need to do to achieve this? Make sure the Blue Room is accessible and welcoming to everyone who visits and the work we produce is relevant.”
WABN: What are the specific hurdles that you meet on a daily basis in your sector? How do you deal with them?
JO: “Getting caught up with the noise and chaos that often surrounds me in my work environment (I work in a shared office, which, while having benefits can also be quite distracting). Ways I deal with it? Keeping focused on the main goal (what really needs to get done); not allowing myself to get swept away in other people’s dramas, and working from home on Fridays.”
WABN: Who is someone you dream to work with?
JO: “I’m not sure, but it’s a good question and it’s got me thinking.”
WABN: Have you read a good book on management/leadership that you can recommend?
JO: “I tend to dip in and out of different books. At the moment I’m looking at Strategic Alignment by Norman Chorn, which details how different management/leadership styles work in different organisational cultures. I like it because it’s not a one-size-fits-all type of book but allows for the complexity of cultural difference between sectors, industries and organisations.”
What is your favorite hobby?
JO: “Cooking – I find chopping things up and stirring the pot very relaxing.”
WABN: Which personality inspired you the most throughout your career?
JO: “There is no one person in particular. I am definitely inspired and motivated by the work of artists; sometimes it’s just a phrase or image that communicates something essential about the nature of existence. It doesn’t happen all the time but when it does it’s pretty well the best thing out.”
WABN: Who has influenced you personally?
JO: “Ingle Knight, my life partner and best friend.”
WABN: What were you doing before your current position?
JO: “Working as associate artistic director with Barking Gecko Theatre”
WABN: What is your education background?
JO: “I have a BA in English from WAIT (Curtin University) and also trained as an actor at the Victorian College of the Arts.”
